About MAC

All About the Morgan Arts Council

The official arts council of Morgan County, MAC has more than 450 individual and family members. MAC is governed by an elected board of artists and business people and staffed by a professional arts management team. A corps of dedicated volunteers work in all areas, from booking artists to curating gallery shows to staffing the box office at concerts and plays. New volunteers are always welcome. Financial support derives from West Virginia Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts grants, as well as other grantors: hotel/motel taxes, fundraising activities, membership fees and admissions.

MAC events include the popular Summer Concert in the Park series, Ice House Concerts, Arts Integration and Adopt-a-School programs in the Morgan County Schools, community theater productions, literary festivals, gallery shows, visual arts classes for adults and children, public art projects, media classes on videography, broadcasting and film, dance and movement classes, storytellers, and festivals.

MAC launched two new projects in 2014, Engage Berkeley Springs involves community members and visitors of all ages in co-creating public works of art under the guidance of professional artists. The Digital Media Center for Community Engagement (DMC) provides classes and creates original programming to be broadcast on the newly established PEG channel with Comcast and is streamed over the internet.

All these activities — and more — are aimed at accomplishing MAC’s stated mission:

Established at a public meeting in May 1977, the non-profit Morgan Arts Council has produced more than a thousand programs with nearly 2500 artists, benefitting thousands of visitors and residents including students in all county schools. Presentations have included concerts, arts workshops, pageants, craft studio tours, professional art shows, storytellers, theater and video festivals.

MAC’s leadership extends beyond arts programming. In 1993, MAC hosted the first West Virginia Arts Assembly. In 1995, it brought a Benedum Foundation project to the area which provided $80,000 in project grants to 39 groups and organizations from the Humane Society to the Boys and Girls Club. In 2000, MAC directed development of a county cultural and recreation plan.

Today MAC continues to grow its base of programs and activities. This year MAC is launching a new project, Engage Berkeley Springs, where the public will be co-creating public works of art under the guidance of professional artists. Also launching in 2014 is the Digital Media Center for Community Engagement (DMC) where participants will learn videography, broadcasting and media skills and create original programming to be broadcast on the newly established PEG channel with Comcast and streaming over the internet.

Funders and Supporters

Major operational funding support in 2015 has been provided by the following:

West Virginia Commission on the Arts, National Endowment of the Arts, Hotel/Motel Tax Morgan County and Town of Bath, Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, FAST, EcoLab, CNB and other generous supporters.Art & Elegance – Fundraising Event

MAC’s signature fundraising event, Art & Elegance, is traditionally held on the first Saturday in November. The event in 2015 raised over $24,000 to benefit programs and activities of the Morgan Arts Council. Visit Art & Elegance website (www.artandelegance.org) for more information. See a gallery of photos from 2014’s event on Facebook.

The Morgan Arts Council / Ice House provides open access for everyone including persons with disabilities. For special needs, please call ahead at 304-258-2300. The Ice House is a smoke-free and drug-free environment.